“Selecting a low-consumption water toilet doesn’t mean sacrificing performance,” says Adriana Miller, product manager at Mansfield Plumbing in Ohio. “Gone are the days when a toilet needs five, three, or even two gallons of water to effectively and cleanly flush away human waste.”

Miller cites the Summit 1.28 Gpf toilet that features MagnaFlush^TM flushing technology as a prime example of performance married with low water usage. This toilet can flush 1,000 grams MaP (a testing combination of waste and toilet paper) with just over a gallon of water. The high efficiency toilet (HET) meets the WaterSense^® rating criteria set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

            Another way to save water in the home is by selecting a dual flush toilet. Two push buttons at the top of the tank give the user the option to use less water to remove liquid waste and more water to remove mass from the toilet bowl. The Summit Dual Flush uses just 1.1 Gpf for liquid waste versus 1.6 Gpf for mass removal.  Also earning the WaterSense rating, this toilet combination is ideal for homes with larger families.

How Low Can You Go?

Want to go even lower in your overall water usage? QuantumOne^TM toilets use just 1.0 Gpf with every flush. The high efficiency toilet tank provides pressure-assist flushing action with superior performance over conventional gravity flush toilets.

“According to the EPA, toilets are the main source of water consumption in the home, with almost 30 percent of indoor water usage related to toilets,”* says Miller. “When you consider that the average person has at least five flushes per day, this can add up to substantial water bills for a family.

“Our advice is to start by calculating how much water your family can save by replacing even one toilet in the home with a high efficiency toilet. Go to the free Water Savings Calculator at https://www.mansfieldplumbing.com/resources/water-savings-calculator/. This will show you within seconds how much water you can save each year by investing in a WaterSense rated toilet.”

* https://www3.epa.gov/watersense/products/toilets.html

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“Strong focus on high performing, low water usage products is a trend that is here to stay,” says Jim Morando, president of Mansfield Plumbing. “Both plumbing professionals and homeowners want 1.0 and 1.28 Gpf toilets that are water efficient while still providing high levels of performance when it comes to mass removal. This is actually more than a trend. It’s a way of life that’s becoming the norm for our industry.”

Another trend the industry will be living with for decades to come is the large number of Baby Boomers moving into the next stages of their lives. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2014 that there were 76.4 million Baby Boomers currently living in the United States. Given those numbers, Morando believes that ADA-approved sanitaryware and bathware products are a category that will soar in the coming years.

“There’s a huge population of homeowners who are proactively seeking products that will make the aging process easier for them,” says Morando. “Taller toilets that are ADA-approved and walk-in tubs will be the winners for this category of people. It’s all about making life easier as we get older. Products like a SmartHeight^TM toilet or a Restore walk-in tub will continue to have increased sales as Baby Boomers make aging-in-place purchase decisions in the years to come.”

The post 2016 Plumbing Industry Insights – Part 1 appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

“We’ve used Mansfield products for the past six years and found them extremely reliable,” says Wayne Parrish, vice president and director of estimating for P.I.P.E. Inc. “We get very few callbacks on Mansfield products and our clients are very happy with the bathroom products.”

Key clients for P.I.P.E. have included an assortment of newly-constructed senior living facilities, such as properties in Indiana constructed by Mainstreet Property Group and CarDon. The Indiana-based Mainstreet develops, finances and jointly operates transitional care centers and long-term health properties throughout the country. CarDon, also headquartered in Indiana, creates senior living communities throughout the central and southern part of the state. Between the two companies, P.I.P.E. has installed more than 1,500 toilets, plus urinals and lavatory sinks.

“We’ve found that Mansfield products are reliable and of very good quality,” says Parrish. “We appreciate that these products are made in America, plus we get reliable service from the factory and their representative. This has been a winning combination for our commercial projects.”

At nine different Main Street facilities, P.I.P.E. has installed about 120 of the Summit two-piece toilets with MagnaFlush high performance flushing at each project. The toilets feature an elongated front with a SmartHeight^TM feature (available in heights of 16-1/2 inches to 17-1/4 inches) that are ADA compliant. Additionally, more than 150 Mansfield toilets were installed at each of three different CarDon senior living locations during the past three years.

“Having a partner that’s easy to work with and reliable really helps us get these projects completed,” says Parrish. “We work with the on-site contractor for the projects to try and get Mansfield products specified because we believe in them. All the bathrooms in these commercial projects feature Mansfield products and we envision using their products for many years to come.”

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“It’s rare for a complete product line to achieve this prestigious rating,” says Adriana Miller, product manager with Mansfield Plumbing. “We’re pleased to offer these 1.0 Gpf toilets to our customers who are discerning about the superior performance and efficiency required for their plumbing needs.”

The QuantumOne product line with MaP Premium ratings include:

– 146-153 – QuantumOne Elongated front SmartHeight combination/ADA

– 147-153 – QuantumOne Elongated front combination

– 146-153 – QuantumOne Round front combination

– 151-153 – QuantumOne Elongated front SmartHeight rear outlet floor-mount

combination/ADA

– 149-153 – QuantumOne Elongated front, rear outlet floor-mount combination

– 144-153 – QuantumOne Elongated front, rear outlet wall-mount combination

“Our QuantumOne toilets are all certified with the WaterSense^® program and made in America,” says Miller. “These products meet the rigid testing criteria for the MaP Premium rating because of their water efficiency with a 1.0 GpF and the ability to move 600 grams or more of waste per flush.

“Actually, four of the QuantumOne toilets move 1,000 grams of waste per flush, one moves 800 grams and the final one moves 600 grams per flush. These toilets deliver superior performance and style with contemporary lines that fit any bathroom decor.”

MaP Testing is dedicated to identifying the most efficient indoor water-using products that also meet high-performance thresholds. For more information, visit www.map-testing.com.

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There are both one- and two-piece toilet options, with choices of round or elongated shaped bowls. Depending on your style preference, you’ll want to select the location of the flushing handle (which can be on the front, side or top of the tank).

Next up, consider the color toilet you want. Traditional choices include white, bone and biscuit. And, don’t forget the toilet seat! Whether you go with a traditional seat or a SmartClose^TM seat that closes gently and quietly, you want to make the right selection for your family.

As you’re narrowing down your selection, look at the styles of toilets with both exposed and concealed trapways. The trap performs the important function of removing waste from the toilet bowl during the flushing system. In some toilets you can see the outline of where this plumbing feature occurs at the base and back of the toilet, whereas in others the design completely covers the trapway.

And finally, think about the height of the toilet you select. This is typically measured as the height from the floor to the top of the toilet seat. The standard toilet height is anywhere from 14-3/4 to 15-1/2 inches. SmartHeight^TM toilets are available in heights of 16 inches to 17-1/4 inches, providing more comfortable access for users.

“As we age, it’s more difficult to get up and down from a low-height toilet,” says Andrea Miller with Mansfield Plumbing. “Taller toilets are easier to use for many people, including those who are taller themselves or have physical challenges.

“Selecting a new toilet is all about personal choices that work best for you and your family. There are sleek-looking designs for contemporary spaces along with more traditional designs. Whether you’re looking for clean, classic lines or soft curves, there’s the ideal toilet for everyone.”

The post What You Need to Know About Selecting a Toilet – Part 2 appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

Replace outdated fixtures with new top-quality options that offer greater functionality.  Mansfield Plumbing produces fixtures and fittings designed to work in tandem. Our “suites” of a toilet, sink and bathtub can improve the look of your bathroom setting.

In a toilet, there are certain features to seek. A SmartHeight toilet allows for easier access. If you’re environmentally conscious or looking for a pocketbook-friendly option, ask about a WaterSense rated toilet, signifying greater water conservation.

When it comes to relaxation, the bathtub is king. Luckily, Mansfield offers innovating features that go beyond whirlpools. Ask about chromatherapy mood light systems, thermotherapy heated backrests and in-line heaters that keep water heated perfectly.

The post Turn Your Bathroom into a Relaxing Oasis appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

It wasn’t the time or place for me to suggest that a new toilet might be the answer rather than skimping on skinny ply to fix her problem. Girls don’t usually engage in toilet talk much.  Not to mention, there’s still this notion that water saving toilets may bring down the water bill, but they probably don’t work that well in the flushing department. But they do. Really well in fact, if you get the right one. I know, because I have one. And there are great designs, but that topic is for another day.

Really, I’m looking for an excuse to post one of these videos. I think they’re kind of hysterical, so I want the world to know they’re here. But more importantly, they prove my point. How many golf balls can you flush down this Mansfield high efficiency toilet? Guess first. Toy cars? Squares of toilet paper?

Yes, that was forty squares of toilet paper. To my dear friend with the clogged toilet, I challenge your kids to a contest.

The post Water Saving Toilets & the Toy Car Test appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

In the interest of saving you and yours some holiday hair pulling and maybe even some last-minute tears, here are a few of my favorite cleaning tips and products that will not only help beforehand but will make cleaning way less gross if you do find yourself with an up-do and a dirty bathroom.

#1: Don’t Let It Get Dirty in the First Place: Self Cleaning Toilets & Tips

I don’t mean you need to be one of those super humans that dusts every night. There are, however, some sneaky things you can do to keep things from getting super dirty to begin with. For instance, put Epsom salts in your bathwater to keep soap scum from building up in the tub.

And have you heard of the rimless toilet? Under the rim… that’s the part that get’s extra dirty, so take away the rim and add in extra strong swirling action, and you’ve got the Cascade toilet. In addition to the self cleaning toilet properties, it’s also a high efficiency toilet at 1.28 gpf, saving 20% more water than the 1.6 gpf toilet. Save yourself from dirty work and save dollars on water so you can serve fancy hors d’oeuvres.

I used to be embarrassed when someone inevitably peeked inside my oven during a dinner party. That is, until I started dousing the oven with cleaner on the nights we eat out. Let it sit overnight then give it a good wipe. So much easier than waiting until it takes a chisel to remove the char.

#2).  Green cleaning: Keep the Cleaning Clean

There used to be an extra special feeling in my lungs after I’d bleached the color out of the bathroom tile. Believe it or not, you can get your dirtiest cleaning jobs done without using harsh chemicals. I have one bottle filled with vinegar and water. That cleans pretty much everything, along with some baking soda and borax. Seriously, you can clean an entire house with these three things without singeing your precious lungs.

Some people point out that harsh chemicals are the only way they feel like bacteria are wiped out, but a little tea tree oil takes care of that. This is another way a rimless toilet can keep cleaning cleaner. No more bleaching out the ick… it’s cleaning itself so well, you just have to give it an occasional scrub. (Can you tell I don’t like cleaning the toilet?)

Other tips: use baking soda and water on shower doors, use a halved lemon on faucet water spots, and grab olive oil to clean stainless steel surfaces like dishwashers and refrigerator doors.

3). Invest in the Best Cleaning Products for Your Least Favorite Jobs

I can’t stand vacuuming. So cumbersome. That’s until I invested in a heavy duty vacuum cleaner that is seemingly fueled by pet hair (a Dyson, if you’re curious). I also own a high-powered steam iron, because ironing is a thankless job but sometimes it has to happen (a Rowenta). I now believe that it’s worth it to invest in appliances and cleaning products that will help you get the job done in the most pleasant way possible. It might even change how you feel about your most hated chores, so that you’re not waiting until a molehill is a mountain to do the really hard work.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to jingle some bells.

The post Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Be a Dirty Job: Cleaning Tips & Tools that Make the Worst Jobs Easier appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

It’s easy to get the impression that turning a ho-hum bathroom into a luxurious spa retreat is beyond the average household budget. Enter, the bathroom suite. Suites typically feature some or all of the following: complementary bathroom vanities and sinks, bathtubs, and water-saving modern toilets. Sure, updating tile and getting a new fixture or two will freshen things up, but a bathroom suite can be affordable while creating a special ambiance that feels totally indulgent.

Above is one example of our Mansfield Affordable Style Suites. What do you notice? Soaking tub, check. Modern bathroom vanity and sink, check. Contemporary toilet, check. This Enso bathroom collection sets the tone for a spa sanctuary that is entirely within reach, and there are many options within any suite.

Here are a few things to know about your choices:

1. Bathtubs come in a variety of sizes. Just because this tub might appear too large for your smallish bathroom remodel doesn’t mean there isn’t a version of this very same bathtub that will fit your dimensions. Generally, there are at least four different dimensions available
2. While we’re talking about affordable luxuries, you should also know that these bathtubs come as soaking tubs, whirlpool tubs (three options), and air massage tubs (three options). Can you feel your shoulders relaxing already?
3. Not only are modern toilets affordable, they also save money because they’re more efficient. Contemporary toilets can make a statement, or not. But consistency is beautiful, and you get that when the toilet is part of a collection.
4. Bathroom vanities and sinks are where a lot of remodels focus attention, and rightly so. It’s an easy way to bring something unique to a bath. If you look at the suite above and think, “But I want a drop-in sink,” (what’s known in the industry as a self-rimming lavatory), it’s helpful to know that just as bathtubs come with options, so do bathroom sinks. Choose from a self-rimming or pedestal sink in most any bathroom suite.

Ultimately, a bathroom suite will not only up your enjoyment of your space, but it helps set the tone for the bathroom: modern organic, traditional home, clean and sharp, spa retreat. The tile and fixture details come easily from there and are equally simple to customize. There’s something really enjoyable about the fluidity of a bathroom suite. And, forgive the shameless self promotion, but a Mansfield Affordable Style Suite costs less than any comparably equipped collection on the market, so it’s very doable.

Now, how about a lovely soak at the end of this hectic day? The Romans did it for a reason.

The post Stylish Bathrooms Start with a Suite: Collections with Bathroom Vanities, Sinks, Modern Toilets, and Tubs Set the Tone appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.